The UC Berkeley Haas School of Business and the Rausser College of Natural Resources at UC Berkeley have introduced a new MBA/Master of Climate Solutions (MCS) dual degree program aimed at preparing the next generation of leaders in sustainability and climate action. Set to commence in the fall of 2024, the program offers students the opportunity to obtain both an MBA and an MCS degree in just two and a half years, or five semesters. Application deadlines for the initial MBA/MCS cohorts are January 4, 2024, and March 28, 2024.
Designed for early-career professionals aspiring to ascend the ladder of business leadership while possessing a profound understanding of sustainability and climate challenges, this program integrates the strengths of both schools. It provides students with the chance to learn from experts in climate change, sustainability, and business, nurturing a comprehensive skill set essential for navigating a sustainable, low-carbon future.
The program’s curriculum focuses on critical skills and knowledge, covering climate data science, carbon accounting, lifecycle analysis, technological solutions, and nature-based approaches. During the first year, students will undertake MBA core coursework at Haas, covering areas such as leadership, marketing, finance, ethics, sustainability, and more, before transitioning to Rausser for MCS classes.
This new MBA/MCS program follows Rausser’s recent launch of its Master of Climate Solutions degree, which seeks to convey the scientific expertise and knowledge generated by UC Berkeley’s climate experts to professionals. The MCS core curriculum encompasses climate and environmental sciences, economics, policies, technology, and nature-based solutions, bolstered by analytical skills and problem-solving exercises.
All MBA/MCS students will participate in a semester-long capstone program, enabling collaboration with organizations in various sectors. Additionally, a unique leadership course will equip students with the skills needed to drive climate solutions in businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies.
This initiative underlines the commitment of UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and Rausser College of Natural Resources to addressing climate change challenges by educating future leaders with the knowledge and skills required to make a meaningful impact in the field.
“Haas and Rausser both have such impressive track records in climate research,” says Michele de Nevers, managing director of the Office of Sustainability and Climate Change at Haas. “This program combines our offerings at the master’s level, with a keen focus on professional students, who are clearly positioned to make an immediate impact, and who serve a critical role as translators of academic insights and enacting these insights in the world.”
